Statements of Strike Support

CFA’s allies and supporters, which include other unions, elected
officials and many more are writing letters to the Chancellor,
issuing public statements, and adopting various kinds of
resolutions of support for CFA in the Fight for Five for CSU
faculty.

First, see a list and links to some of the many supporters. Then,
scroll down further to see updates about the actions and
statements supporters have made.

COMMENTS FROM SUPPORTERS

Martel Fraser, president, Tri-Counties Central Labor
Council:

“We cannot sit idly while our brother and sister members of
the California Faculty Association are denied recognition of
their value in higher education by CSU management. Public
employees across the country have been under attack for years,
and we must band together to end this dangerous crusade. The race
to the bottom ends here.”

Patrick Choi, President, Academic Professionals of
California:

“APC and CFA have a history of working together. We support
CFA and their members’ stance in reaching a fair and equitable
contract as all faculty and staff have suffered real income
losses during the last eight years.”

Cesar Lara, Executive Director of the Monterey Bay
CLC:

“Our board found that your members have been more than
patient and fair during your meetings to negotiate a contract
with the CSU…. It is apparent that a strike is in order for the
well-being of your members and the people whom they serve.”

Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the San Francisco
CLC:

“Naturally we will be watching this situation closely and if
necessary our 100,000 member Council will fully participate in
whatever support you may need.”

Julio Perez, Executive Director of the Orange County
Labor Federation:

“Feel confident that the Orange County Labor Federation will
assist with any other request that CFA may have by using all its
available resources and relationships, including services from
the United Labor Agency. All affiliates of the OCLF with
jurisdiction in Orange County will be notified of the Strike
Sanction.”

Mike Gentry, President, CLC of Butte and Glenn
Counties:

“The vote was unanimous in favor of supporting CFA actions
against California State University [management]. Provide us as
much lead time as possible regarding labor actions so that we may
inform our member unions.”

At a Friday press conference, LULAC representatives who are in
Los Angeles for their annual Women’s Conference, will announce
their support for the California Faculty Association’s potential
strike in April, which would be the largest strike in the history
of higher education.

A five-day strike is scheduled at all California State
University campuses on April 13-15 and 18-19 if no
settlement is reached with the CSU Administration in the interim.

Campus Academic Senates and student organizations are getting in
on the strike support action in recent weeks.

At CSU San Marcos, the Academic Senate passed a resolution March
3 in support of CFA’s call for a strike. The positive move came
just days after the CSU San Marcos Associated Students Inc. (ASI)
Board of Directors
voted to support CFA’s Fight for Five and stand with the
faculty.

CFA President Jennifer Eagan addressed the 3,200 delegates at the
2016 California Democratic Convention saying CFA’s Fight for Five
is “not just for faculty or for the students. It’s a fight that
represents our democratic values, the values of economic justice
and social mobility. It’s a fight for a better state..”

SAN JOSE, CA—The 3200 delegates to the California Democratic
Party convention voted today to endorse the California Faculty
Association’s “Fight for Five” campaign.

The Fight for Five calls for fair pay for the 26,000 professors,
lecturers, coaches, counselors and librarians who teach in the
California State University system. Contract talks have broken
down. If no settlement is reached, CSU faculty will go on strike
for five days, April 13-15 and 18-19.

Los Angeles Federation of Labor Executive Director Rusty Hicks
joined California Faculty Association President Jennifer Eagan
and other CFA officers and members yesterday at Cal State LA to
announce a Strike Sanction granted to CFA should CSU faculty
strike over fair faculty pay.

Unions, organizations and legislators continue to pledge support
for CFA and the Fight for Five this month.

On Dec. 2, the Executive Board of the United Educators of San
Francisco (UESF) passed a resolution in support our contract
demands and urging delegates to the San Francisco Labor
Council, the California Teachers Associaton State Council and the
California Federation of Teachers convention to do the same.

Leaders of national education organizations have sent letters to
CSU Chancellor White calling on him to settle the faculty
contract and provide the salaries we need to support both our
families and a quality education for our students.

It is no secret to faculty in the California State University
that we are the People’s University that makes sure working
Californians have access to a four-year college degree for
themselves and their children.

Union leaders and members across organized labor understand that,
and they plan to turnout on Nov. 17 to stand with CFA.

Pulaski, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of the California Labor
Federation, posed a poignant question to the chancellor in his
letter:

“These are professionals with higher education degrees who are
responsible for teaching, leading and mentoring our young adults.
How can we expect them to inspire students to achieve the
American Dream when they can’t even attain it for themselves?”